Wondering about Campus Psychology Graduate Programs versus distance-learning? Campus Psychology Graduate Programs may be the perfect fit for you if are interested in understanding about the brain, behavior in depth, aspire to practice psychology as a profession, or are ready to research a specific topic. Psychology is an extensive discipline, covering the social sciences – think sociology, anthropology and the physical sciences, and each level of graduate degree has different potential career paths associated with it. If you have a desire to provide psychological services, whether in business, to individuals, or groups, read on to learn more about the academic road ahead of you.

Potential Advantages of Campus Psychology Graduate Programs

Not sure about what the potential advantages to choosing campus psychology graduate programs are? Certainly a personal decision. Nonetheless, attending graduate school is bound to be different than taking courses online. First of all, some people study better in, and are more motivated by, the group learning environment. Campus programs are likely to be more social, you are able to network, brainstorm, go for coffee with a fellow grad student. Other perks? The libraries and laboratories are usually close by. You get access to the gym, you might be able to walk over to career counseling in another building. You are likely to meet your professors. Yes, you have to get to class. Bus, subway, walk, drive, but the discipline is what keeps you going. Sound feasible? If so, exploring Campus Psychology Programs and graduate school that appeals to you is next.

How to Find Campus Psychology Graduate Programs

GradSchools.com makes it easy for you to find on campus Psychology graduate programs. You can do this a few ways. If you have selected a concentration area from the subject selection – whether that is forensic psychology or industrial organizational psychology, you can then conduct a location search. Use the city, state or country tabs and results are generated. Or, you can add a step, and filter by the type of graduate program you are looking into. If you are unsure how to tell if a program is accredited, read on for more details.

What Do I need to Know About Accreditation?

Accreditation means that a system is in place for recognizing educational quality and standards as defined by a third party accrediting body. In the case of Psychology, accreditation applies to educational programs such as doctoral programs in professional psychology, and institutions - colleges, universities, and independent schools of professional psychology- but not to individuals.

The American Psychological Association accredits doctoral programs in clinical, counseling and school psychology, or a combination of two or more of these areas. However, the APA does not accredit programs in other areas of professional practice (e.g., industrial/organizational psychology). It does not accredit master's degree programs. That doesn’t mean that you can’t check the program against other quality regional and national education boards.

Keep in mind that most states require a doctoral degree from an APA-accredited, (or a Canadian Psychological Association accredited program in Canada) and additional supervised training experiences (internship and/or postdoctoral residency) to be a licensed psychologist. Because licensure requirements vary by state/territory, we recommend that you research these for the state(s) in which you plan to practice before deciding on which programs to apply. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) is a good source for this information.

So Many Campus Psychology Graduate Programs: Which one do I choose?

Selecting the graduate program in psychology that is ‘right’ for you requires thoughtful consideration. First, think carefully about your career goals and special interests. For instance, do you want to work with children, victims of crime, or in industry? Are you fascinated by neuroscience? And then apply to programs that have turned out graduates that succeed in the type of job that you want. Also, make sure your previous education and training prepare you for success in the program. In terms of choosing a Psychology Graduate Campus program, each grad school has a unique personality, conducts interesting research, and has facilities to check out.

What Types of Campus Psychology Graduate Programs are there?

First of all, graduate school is an opportunity to learn core scientific principles of psychology, statistics and experimental procedures above what you may have learned in an undergrad degree.

Psychology Masters Programs

Masters in Psychology degrees are earned as either a stand-alone degree (often called the terminal master’s), or in some doctoral programs you earn a master’s degree as part of your work on your thesis. When considering a master’s degree, you should ask each program what career path its graduates pursue and how the program prepares them for that path. If you are interested in providing health services, you should be aware that most state licensing boards of psychology require a doctoral degree to be a licensed therapist.

Some of the listings for campus programs might include Experimental Psychology MS, MA in clinical Mental Health Counseling or Master of Arts in Counseling: Specialization in Forensic Psychology. Look inside a Masters in Psychology Program

Psychology Doctorate Programs

Doctorate degrees in Psychology engage you in much greater depth of knowledge and skills in a specialized subfield of psychology. These programs are for those interested in thought leadership through scientific research — setting up experiments, collecting data, comparing experimental groups and learning statistical and analytical techniques. Your choices are The Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), which is a clinical degree, or the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), which is a research degree.

Some of the listings for campus doctorate degree programs might include Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology, PhD Business Psychology I/O track or PhD in Applied Behavior Analysis. Look inside a Doctorate Program in Psychology

Psychology Graduate Certificates

There are post-masters graduate certificates as well as ones that are suitable if, for instance, you wanted to boost your credentials in a specific area. Some of the listings you might find could include General Psychology Graduate Certificate, Behavioral Intervention Specialist (LBSII) or even Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis. Take a look at more listings for Grad Certificates in Psychology

Take the Next Step

It is not uncommon to take a lot of time to really research graduate schools, and the different programs to see which is in line with your goals. Many universities have budgets for research and you may find a school that is doing so in a subject that you want to study. It is always good to know what your options are. Psychology is definitely a field with career potential, but you have to know which degree track will pave the way for you.

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